When should my child see an orthodontist?
Around age 7 to 8. By then the first adult teeth are through, there is still a mix of baby and adult teeth, and the jaws are growing quickly. That mix tells a specialist a great deal about how the adult smile is shaping up. Most children this age need nothing yet. The point of an early look is to catch the small group of problems that are far easier to guide while growth is on our side. At Milk the first check is a free Smile Assessment, and you do not need a referral.
4.9 from 75 Google reviews · Specialist orthodontist · First check from around age 7 · Newmarket and Albany
Reviewed by Dr Shaz MacAvoy, Specialist Orthodontist. Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Orthodontics), registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand.
Ages at a glance
Every child grows at their own pace, so treat these as a guide. A specialist check tells you exactly which stage your child is at.
7 to 8: the first check
The first adult front teeth and molars are through. A specialist can see how the jaws are growing and whether the adult teeth will have room. Most children are simply checked again in a year, at no charge.
8 to 10: early treatment for a few
A small group benefits from a short, gentle phase now: a plate, an expander or braces on a few teeth, to correct a crossbite, widen a narrow jaw or protect front teeth that stick out.
11 to 14: the classic time for braces
The baby teeth have gone and growth is still helping, so this is when most comprehensive treatment with braces or clear aligners happens. Results are better and more stable.
15 and over: not too late
Older teens and adults are treated every day. Growth is slowing, so treatment relies more on tooth movement alone, but the options are the same and the results are just as good.
What signs indicate a child should be referred to an orthodontist?
None of these mean something is definitely wrong. They mean it is worth having a specialist look sooner rather than later. You do not need a dentist to refer you.
Want to check at home first? Our does my child need braces guide walks through each sign.
When should a child see an orthodontist rather than a dentist?
Both matter, and they look for different things.
Your dentist
Watches for decay, gum health and the general condition of the teeth from the first tooth onwards. Many dentists will mention if a bite or crowding looks worth a specialist opinion, and that is a good prompt to book.
A specialist orthodontist
Has completed around three extra years of university training in how the face, jaws and bite develop. Some of the most important things we look for are invisible without that training, even in a child with straight looking teeth. Do dentists carry out full orthodontic assessments? Usually not. A dentist can spot a concern and refer, and you can also book with us directly.
More on the difference in our guide to orthodontist vs dentist.
What to expect at your child's first orthodontist visit
Quick, gentle, and nothing is decided on the day unless you want it to be.
1. A free Smile Assessment
About 20 minutes with our Treatment Coordinator at Newmarket or Albany. We look at your child's teeth and bite, take a few photos and answer your questions. No referral, no cost, no obligation.
2. An honest answer
Very often the answer is that everything is developing normally and we simply check again in a year, at no charge. If something is worth a specialist look, we say so, along with a clear guide to cost.
3. The specialist visit, if needed
A $390 consultation with Dr Shaz: full records including X-rays and photos, a diagnosis, a written treatment plan and an exact all-inclusive quote. It can also be booked directly.
Read more about the free consultation and children's orthodontics at Milk.
Honest pricing, quoted up front
Early interceptive treatment starts from $4,500. If your child is likely to need both an early phase and later braces, we quote both together, usually $11,900 to $12,500, with an interest-free plan spread over around 30 months. Comprehensive treatment for older children and teens is from $9,900, all-inclusive of records, appliances, appointments, retainers and aftercare. Family discounts apply for siblings.
Answered honestly
What is the best age for orthodontic treatment?
There is no single best age, which is why the first check comes before any treatment. A first look around 7 to 8 finds the few problems worth guiding early. Most comprehensive treatment with braces or aligners starts between about 11 and 14, once enough adult teeth are through and growth is still helping. A specialist check tells you which timing applies to your child.
When should kids get braces?
Most children get braces between about 11 and 14. That is when the last baby teeth have gone, the adult teeth are through and the jaws are still growing, so the result is better and more stable. A small number of children have a short early phase at about 8 to 10 first, to guide growth or make room.
How early can kids get braces?
Early treatment can start from about age 7 to 8 when there is a clear reason, such as a crossbite, a very narrow upper jaw or front teeth at risk of damage. It usually uses plates, expanders or a short course of braces on a few teeth, not full braces. Full braces wait until the adult teeth are through.
At what age should bite problems be assessed by an orthodontist?
By about age 7 to 8. Crossbites, underbites, deep bites and jaws that shift to one side are the problems that respond best to early guidance, and they are easiest to see once the first adult teeth are in. Waiting until the teenage years can make some of them harder to treat.
Does a child need to see an orthodontist if their teeth look straight?
It is still worth a look around age 7 to 8. Some of the most important things a specialist checks, such as how the jaws are growing and whether the adult teeth have room, are not visible from the front. Most children are told everything is developing normally, and that is a good outcome too.
Can an orthodontist predict how a child's jaw will grow?
Not exactly, but a specialist can read the pattern. The size and position of the jaws, the family history, the bite and the order the teeth are coming through all point to where growth is heading. That is why we often watch a child for a year or two, at no charge, and step in only when it clearly helps.
Why do orthodontists recommend early intervention for some children?
Because a few problems are far easier to fix while the jaws are still growing. A crossbite, a narrow upper jaw, a jaw that shifts to one side or front teeth sticking out and at risk of being knocked can all be guided with simple appliances at 7 to 10. Left until the teens, the same problems can need longer treatment or, occasionally, surgery.
My child is already a teenager. Is it too late?
No. The years from 11 to 15 are still the classic time for braces or aligners, because growth is on our side. Older teens and adults are treated every day too. Read our guide to orthodontics for teenagers, or book a free Smile Assessment and we will tell you honestly where things stand.
Find out if it is time, or not
A free 20 minute Smile Assessment at Newmarket or Albany. No referral, no obligation, just an honest specialist answer on whether your child needs anything yet, and when.
Related: the best age for braces, orthodontics for teens and palatal expanders.